Talking-moving-picture machine



Aug. 9, 1927.

Filed March 18. 1926 )ff/T Ess Patented Aug. 9, 1927.

4UNITED STATES-p PATENT OFFICE.

TEEODORE WILLARD CASE, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CASE RESEARCH LABORATORY INCORPORATED, 0F AUBURN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW von;

TALKING-MOVING-PICTURE IMACHINE.

Application led March 18, 1926. Serial No. 95,593.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in talking moving picture machines;

In machines of this type, partiqularly in reproduction work, it is essential to accurate reproduction that the extremely narrow slit through which the light passes to the film shall at all times be arranged in exact alignment with the `lines produced-on the iilm in the taking of a talking picture. And as the member containing the slit must be removed and replaced at more or less frequent inter- 'vals, and as it is found unsatisfactory to permit the ordinary machine operator or like workman to perform this duty 'because of resulting inaccuracies, the main ob]ect of this invention resides in the production of a talking picture unit adapted to be assembled with a moving picture machine in such a manner that it is readily moved from the machine and readil replaced in the same position, and inclu es the member containing the slit or the slit unit fixed thereto in predetermined position, so that the film is guided over the slit with'the lines on the film in perfect alignment with the slit whereb exact reproduction is effected.

Furt er, where a film moves over a track containing a slit unit and provided with guides for limitin the lateral movement of the film, dirt an foreign matter tend to collect in the corner at the junction of the track and the guide, and the film is thereby lifted away from the slit, and an additional object of .this invention resides in the roduction of a talking picture unit 1n w ich the lateral ide is omitted at points o posite and ad]acent the slit so that the culty experienced with former structures in the accinnulation of foreign matter and the lifting of the filmaway from the slit is eliminated.

Other objects 'and advantages relate to 4 the details of the construction and the parts ,y thereof, all as will more full appear from the following description, ta en 1n connection Vwith the accompanying drawings, in-

which Figure 1 is an elevation partially in section of an apparatus of this invention.

ure -1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3 -3, Figure 1.

The apparatus as here illustrated comprises a moving picture machine, a portion of which is .illustrated at 1- combined with a replaceable talking picture unit including a fixed slit unit of desired construction. The replaceable talking picture -unit comprises a body section 2- including a flange -3-, in this instance extending at substantially right angles to the body and formed with a plurality of openings for the reception of screws lt three being illustrated in this instance, which are adapted to be threaded into openings in the wall 1J- of the moving picture machine.

The body section -2- further includes longitudinally extending tracks -5- and -6-, in this instance spaced apart and elevated above the central portion of the body -2- and longitudinally extending lateral guides or strips -6- and 7 disposed upon opposite sides of and elevated above the respective tracks -5`- and -6`, upon which track'sthe lm A is adapted to ride between the guides -6- and -7-.

One of these guides, as -7-, is preferabl laterally movable with respect to the |bo y -2- so as to tightly engage the adjacent edge of the iilm A- and hold the opposite edges in contact with the guide or strip 3G-p For this reason vthe guide -7- is formed with laterally extending slots -8- adapted to receive screws -9- which extend into openings in the body, and as the strip -7- lies in substantial contact with the wall --l-`, this wall is formed with one or more recesses --10- adapted to receive coil springs --11- which bear against the outer edge of the guide --7- arid tend to force it inwardly toward the guide S6- so that the ilm will at all times be tightly confined between the guides.

The track .--5- in this illustration is formed with a recess within which there is secured by cementing 'or otherwise a slit unit -12- or a member containing an elongated, extremely narrow slit -1'3-, the body Figure 2 is a section on line.2^-2, Figthin ayer -15- of opaque material, such as a metal like silver, and 1n this o aque layer l5- the slot 13 is ruled. n extremely thin cover glass 16- is then secured by such a material as- Canada balsam, permanently in place over the slot -13- and is preferably of a size substantially equal to the size of the base plate -14- so as to form a symmetrical unit. This unit is placed in the recess formed in the track 5 adapted to receive it, and the recess is .preferably of such a size that the slit unit fits it, and the surface of the cover glass -16- is flush with the surface of the track.

In order to prevent the accumulation of dirt and foreign matter at the juncture of the guide -36- and track -5- at a point adjacent the slit 13, the guide -36- is cut away at its inner edge so as to form a lateral recess -17-- which preferably extends some distance upon op osite sides of the slit unit 12- and the oor of this recess is flush with and forms a continuation of the track -5- so that there is no angular part at points adjacent the slit unit vto collect dirt or foreign matter.

Means is provided for holding the film in tight contact with the tracks -5- and -6- and in this illustration that means takes the form'of telescoping tubes 18- and -l9-, one of which as 18- is connected at its base by screws or otherwise to the wall -1- of the moving icture machine, and the other section, suc as -19- carries at its forward end a plate 20- which plate in turn carries a plurality of, in this instance two shoes -21-, one for pressing the film into contact with each of the tracks -5- and 6-, and the shoe which is adapted to hold the filmin contact with the track -5-, is laterally` cut away to form a recess therein at a point adjacent the slit unit -12- so that no portion .of the shoe overlies the slit -13. The tubes are normally urged apart by enclosed coil spring -37-'1 y tracks.

The telescoping tubes 18- a`nd -19- are slidably secured together by means of stud -24- secured to the tube -18- and extending outwardly therefrom and positioned in an elongated slot 25- in the tube -19-.

It will be obvious that lthe entire unit including the body -Qf-, the tracks, the guides and the slit unit, are removable from the wall -1- and are readily replaced in the same position and secured therein by screws -4- so that the unit when secured in the machine is always ata predetermined position, and as the slit unit -12- is fixed with respect to the body -2- it will in like manner always be fixed in la predetermined position wit respect to the lilm- ,-A- which moves over it and the recess 17.- will prevent the collection ofv any foreign matter at points adjacent the slit unit 12- which would lift the film away from the slit, and altho 'I have shown and described a. specific construction and a specific'form and relation -of the arts thereof, I do not desire to limit myselfpto any particular form, arrangement or construction of the parts, as various changes and modifications maybe made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1, A removable talking picture unit comprising a body portion, spaced longitudinally extendin tracks elevated above the central portion of the body, one of said tracks formed with a recess, and a slit unit inset in said recess and having its contact surface substantially flush with the track.

2. A removable talking picture unit comprising a body portion, spaced longitudinally extending tracks elevated above the central portion of the body, one of said tracks formed with a recess, a slit unit inset in said recess and havin its contact surface substantiallyv flush with t e track, and guides upon the outer sides'of the tracks.

3. A-removable talking picture unit comprising a body portion spaced longitudinally extending t'racks ,elevated above the central portion of the body, one of said tracks' formed with a recess, a slit unit inset in said recess and having its contact surface substantially flush with the track, guides upon the outer sides of thetracks, onev of said guides being mounted in a laterally movable manner, and spring means tending to move said guide toward the opposite guide.

4. A removable talking picture unit comprising a body ortion having s acedlongitudinally exten ing guides, a s it unit carried by the body portion and the said guide on the side adjacent the slit unit being cut away to form a recess opposite the slit unit.

5. A removable talking picture' unit com- `prising a body portion, spaced longitudinally extending tracks ada ted ,to support a film, longitudinally exten ing guides uponthe outer sides of the tracks for confining a film, and one of said tracks Iformed with a recess, and a slit unit secured in said recess.

Y ture 6. A removable talking picture unit comprising a body portion, spaced longitudinally extending tracks adapted to support a film, longitudinally extendin guides upon the outer sides of the tracks for confining a film, and one of said tracks formed with a recess, and a slit unit secured in said recess, and having its contact surface substantially flush with the track.

7. A removable talking picture unit comprising a body portion, spaced longitudinally extending tracks ada ted to support aA film, longitudinally exten lng guides upon the outer sides of the tracks for confining a film, and one of said tracks formed with a recess and a slit unit secured in said recess,

and the said guide adjacent the slit unit being cut away to form a lateral recess adjacent the outer edge of the slit unit.

8. A removable talking picture unit com prising a body portion havmg means for securing the same to a wall of a moving icmachine, longitudinally exten 'ng tracks adapted to sup ort a film, a slit unit in one of said tracks, ongitudinally extending guides at opposite sldes of the tracks, means for mounting the guide adjacent the wall of the moving icture machine in a manner to permit its ateral movement, and

a spring interposed between the said wall and the guide adapted to normally urge said l guide toward the op site uide.

9. A removable ta 'ng picture unit comprising a body portion having securing the same to a wall of a moving picture machine, longitudinalyx'n extending tracks adapted to su port a nally extending gui es at opposite sides of the tracks, means for Inounting the guide adjacent the wall ofthe moving picture machine in a manner to permit its lateral movement, a. spring interposed between the said wall and the guide adapted to normally urge said guide toward the opposite uide, a slit unit carried bythe body near t e opposite guide, and said o posite ide formed with a lateral recess a jacent 5i; slit unit.

10. A talking icture unit comprising a body portion havln a surface over which al filmis adapted to ride in contact, a slit unit mounted in said body and substantially flush with the surface over which the film rides,

and a guide for contact with the ed e ofthe film adjacent the slit unit, said gui e being cut away to form a recess opposite the slit unit.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of March, 1926.

THEODORE WILLARD CASE. l

means 'for longitudi- 

